Defender cab on eBay goes from $9.99 to $1,800!?!?

[quarterback]

I was wathing this auction and thinking about picking this up (even though I don't need it).  The opening bid was $9.99  I figured, if nobody wanted it, I might grab it.  It looked pretty cool.  The auction was to end today, so I went to see how it was doing and found out it had been pulled by the seller.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6205636852&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:12

And now it's been relisted with a starting bid of $1,800!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Relisted-Defender-Prototype_W0QQitemZ6205873079QQcategoryZ13716QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Too bad I didn't make an offer for $20 or so when I had the chance

[Stingray]

Somebody told the guy he had a proto and he got excited. Note that I have no idea if the claim about it being a proto is true or not.

-S

[quarterback]

Somebody told the guy he had a proto and he got excited. Note that I have no idea if the claim about it being a proto is true or not.

-S

According to this page here (complete with Williams' advertising pics) it looks like it is.

[Pik4chu]

ah the good ol' "prototype" and "rare" craze... reminds of gamestop selling Contra III for 75$ because it was a "really good but very rare collectible"   A game which I just picked up on ebay for 35$ for 3 of them 

The other thing thats funny is that its not going to sell. bids barely got to 150$ ont he closing day, I seriously doubt it would fetch all that much higher than that, even with sniping.  Oh well, hope he has fun eating that relist cost

[Crazy Cooter]

Even if it's a prototype (seems like it is) IMO, it's still not worth $1800.  But people have spent more for less.

[Lilwolf]

It might be... its only one of the most 'classic'...

the question is if anyone has a few extra K laying around who's favorite game is defender.

but he should really pay someone professionally to fix the power problem, clean up the cab (get a key) and everything.  For 150 bucks he might get what hes asking.

[TOK]

Guys fooling himself. I don't blame him for doing a re-list, but if he did it with a $250 reserve, I think it would have gone crazy. He's writing in the description about all the people on the "Watch" list. I think there were about 50. Five of them are my friends and I, none of us have any intention on bidding on it, just curious what it goes for. Wonder how many of the other "Watchers" are just doing the same thing?

[RayB]

There was a real long debate over that cabinet style a couple years ago on RGVAC... Part of the problem with the claim it was a prototype was that people kept finding more and more of these cabinets.

I think in the end it was determined that a version of these cabs were very common in Europe. But that there were a few of them made for a tradeshow in the US when the game was first unveiled.

That doesn't mean it's a "prototype" though. It's just a regular Defender in a rare cabinet.

ALL the info you could want and more is summarized on this page here:
http://www.andys-arcade.net/personal/defproto/

[NoOne=NBA=]

The only cabinet I'd out with that kind of cash for is an excellent condition, dedicated Major Havoc.

There was one up on ebay about 1-1/2 years ago that had a starting price of $1800 on it.
Unfortunately I didn't have enough cash at the time.

[Scott84]

someone should take measurements and make a .PDF to 'document' it so people can make there own if it is rare/proto

[Kremmit]

The sad thing is, if he had started with a lower opener, I wouldn't be surprised if a bid war didn't kick it up to $900-$1200.  But with an $1800 opener, he's taking quite a gamble.  If he's lucky, there's ONE guy somewhere that just has to have it, and will cough up.  But if he's not, then he has to re-list, and everybody that's been watching this will have it in their head that he wants too much, and be reluctant to bid.

[quarterback]

But if he's not, then he has to re-list, and everybody that's been watching this will have it in their head that he wants too much, and be reluctant to bid.

He claims he's not going to relist it and will, instead, keep it and fix it up.  I guess $1800 is the "price" that "everone has".   Last week he didn't want to keep it, now he does

It is kinda cool with the StarWars stuff on it, but yeah, $1800 is a chunk of change.

I think there were about 50. Five of them are my friends and I, none of us have any intention on bidding on it, just curious what it goes for. Wonder how many of the other "Watchers" are just doing the same thing?

Exactly,  I don't think the $1,800 price tag is nearly as crazy as the concept that "because 50 people are 'watching' an $1,800 defender auction it must be in great demand".  My guess is that nobody's going to 'snipe' this puppy.  If somebody wants to spend $1,800 bucks on it, then they'll do it because they're one in a million.

[TOK]

someone should take measurements and make a .PDF to 'document' it so people can make there own if it is rare/proto

I don't really even like the Star Wars art. An original with it is cool because it's unique, but the art definitely doesn't fit the Defender theme.

[Crazy Cooter]

There was a real long debate over that cabinet style a couple years ago on RGVAC... Part of the problem with the claim it was a prototype was that people kept finding more and more of these cabinets.

It does look that way.  So I guess the real question would be what quantity of run qualifies a cabinet as a "prototype" vs "version one"?

I would think that a "prototype" would only be a display case until the game was to be released for the public.  It looks like this version was released... therefore "version one".  Right?

[RayB]

I would think that a "prototype" would only be a display case until the game was to be released for the public.

[Kremmit]

I would agree with you there. A prototype usually has incomplete game code or is made up of wire-wrapped board parts with lots of manually installed stuff, etc (as opposed to 100% factory made).

That's a prototype PCB.  This is a prototype cabinet.

A prototype is any piece that gets produced in a small quantity, before the final version is decided upon and mass-produced.  They made a few of these cabinets when they were ready to start showcasing their new game at the trade shows.  But before they started mass-producing them, they decided they didn't need the Lucas hassle, and decided to go with the design we're all familiar with instead for the main manufacturing run.  So I think it's legit to call it a proto.

[Wade]

I emailed him an hour after the original auction was created, trying to buy it with cash, hoping I noticed it before everyone else.  I would have gone up to $500 or so.  Of course, I was only one of hundreds, so he killed it and relisted it.

It wouldn't surprise me a bit if it went for $1800, but in my opinion, he'd do better leaving it alone or starting the relist at $1, so a bidding war could take place.  It is possible no one will bid on it, and again he will just get a bunch of cash offers in email.

Anything less than $500 would be a steal for that game.  $1000 or more is about right.  The upper limit just depends on how many people are dying to get this game right now.

Doesn't matter if it's a prototype or not.  It is an extremely rare example of a very desirable game.  Nice regular Defenders go for $600-800, so this one is worth AT LEAST that amount.  The problem with the game is minor and won't affect the cost whatsoever to a collector.

Wade

[Crazy Cooter]

We have a bidder...

Too much IMO.  I'd rather have a nice SW cockpit.  That's a game everyone would pay for.

[quarterback]

We have a bidder...

And this person has bid on high price items before.

$1050 on a M.A.C.H. 3
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6204708552

$648 for a book
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6552398019

I think we have a collector here who's got the cash money and willing to spend it.

[Pik4chu]

We have a bidder...

And this person has bid on high price items before.

$1050 on a M.A.C.H. 3
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6204708552

$648 for a book
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6552398019

I think we have a collector here who's got the cash money and willing to spend it.

or he is buying on behalf of other people. (who are collectors)  since those other two items dont exactly have much in common.  I mean an arcade and a children's book? hehe.

[Wade]

To each his own, I personally would rather have the Defender, it's a great game and it'd look sweet in my gameroom and not take up a lot of space.

[Pik4chu]

There is a Defender cab local to me (Colorado).... person is asking 550$ for it...

[Wade]

There is a Defender cab local to me (Colorado).... person is asking 550$ for it...

Wade

[Pik4chu]

There is a Defender cab local to me (Colorado).... person is asking 550$ for it...

Wade

[Wade]

I didn't know what was your point.

Wade

[Pik4chu]

I didn't know what was your point.

Wade

cause several people said they wanted one but not for $1800?

[Wade]

One with the full color "prototype" artwork?

Wade

[Pik4chu]

One with the full color "prototype" artwork?

Wade

oh,

[Wade]

Gotcha.

Wade